The nominee for Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has vowed to introduce tech-driven upgrades to reform Ghana’s passport application and issuance system.
Addressing Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Wednesday, January 29, Mr. Ablakwa emphasized the urgent need for modernization to improve efficiency, accountability, and ease of access.
He acknowledged the frustrations citizens endure in acquiring passports, citing prolonged wait times, administrative hurdles, and claims of intermediaries manipulating the process.
“The other thing that I want to reform is our passport regime. There are too many complaints about how difficult it is to get passports and to get them in good time. I have been going through some briefs, and I noticed that we have a backlog of over 70,000 passports that have not been collected. Then there are issues with the middlemen, ‘goro’ boys and all of that,” he said.
To address these challenges, he proposed integrating modern digital systems to optimize procedures, eradicate irregularities, and enhance service efficiency.
Mr. Ablakwa further assured the committee that, under his stewardship, the Foreign Affairs Ministry would roll out a user-friendly online application system and refine the biometric data enrollment process for applicants.
“I recall the former Foreign Minister, the Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, storming the passport office in frustration and saying that, ‘look, this crisis cannot continue’. I would like to use technology to reform our passport regime. I don’t think that we should still be requiring Ghanaians who have a Ghana Card to go to the passport office for their biometrics.”
The Supreme Court has reaffirmed that Ghana’s laws on unnatural carnal knowledge remain valid, despite some countries legalizing homosexuality.
The court emphasized that Ghana should not adopt foreign laws that conflict with its values and constitution.
In its ruling, the court upheld the constitutionality of Section 104 (1) (b) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which criminalizes unnatural carnal knowledge. It ruled that any sexual intercourse not involving penetration of a penis into a woman’s vagina remains illegal under this section.
The court’s decision came after Dr. Prince Obiri-Korang challenged the law, arguing it was unconstitutional and violated privacy rights. Dr. Obiri-Korang claimed that the law discriminates against homosexuals and infringes on their rights as per Articles 18(2) and 14(1) of the 1992 Constitution.
Justice Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu authored the unanimous decision, supported by a seven-member panel. The court found that the plaintiff’s arguments were based largely on international laws, which could not be applied in Ghana.
Justice Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi concurred, stating that Ghana should not feel pressured by international norms to legalize homosexuality.
He highlighted that the 1992 Constitution upholds family and cultural values, which oppose homosexuality. Justice Kulendi questioned how such practices could align with constitutional provisions aimed at protecting family units and promoting societal values.
The court also rejected the claim that Section 104 (1) (b) infringes on privacy rights. It argued that privacy is not absolute and can be limited by considerations of public safety, morality, and national well-being.
Graphic Business has reported that more than half of the foreign remittances entering Ghana cannot be adequately accounted for, a problem stemming from the deregulation of the foreign remittances sector.
The introduction of fintech companies following the Payment Systems and Services Act of 2019 has had a negative impact on the stability of the local currency, according to Banking Consultant Dr. Richmond Atuahene. He stated that if all remittances were accurately tracked, they could have significantly bolstered the local currency.
In 2021, Ghana received $4.5 billion, and in 2022, it received $4.7 billion, according to a World Bank report. However, the Auditor-General’s Report on the Consolidated Statements of Foreign Exchange Receipts shows that remittances for those years amounted to $2.11 billion and $2.12 billion, respectively.
Dr. Atuahene emphasized that this reveals discrepancies in the country’s remittance data compared to the World Bank’s assessment. The World Bank tracks remittance figures from the source, suggesting that the Bank of Ghana (BoG) may not be monitoring all remittances.
He suggested that this situation could be a consequence of the sector’s deregulation, with fintech companies potentially not reporting their remittances to the BoG, which would be a clear violation of the Foreign Exchange Act.
“This may be due to the deregulation of the sector, with fintech companies potentially not declaring their remittances to the BoG, in violation of the Foreign Exchange Act.”
Concerns are raised by the disparities between the BoG’s balance of payments and the World Bank report, which show that over half of the remittances received in Ghana are not included in the latter’s figure.
“When you take the World Bank report and the BoG figures, you see some discrepancies between the two.
So it’s either we are not tracking all the remittances because it seems more than half of the remittances that come into the country are not reflecting on the BoG’s balance of payment.”
“In 2019, we passed the Payment Systems and Services Act which was accompanied by a National Payment Strategic Plan which created the enabling environment for other private Money Transfer Companies (MTC) and Fintechs to play an active role in receiving remittances and it appears their activities are the reason why we are not capturing all the remittances.” he said.
Dr. Atuahene thinks that the volatility of the local currency is caused by fintech companies hoarding foreign currencies rather than turning them over to the BoG. Ensuring accurate monitoring of all remittances has the potential to greatly boost the nation’s economy.
“When you go into the Foreign Exchange Act, it states categorically that no institution can hold foreign currency except BoG or the authorised dealer banks but due to the introduction of these MTCs and fintechs, people are now sending their remittances through them and they end up holding on to the foreign currencies and don’t surrender them to the BoG.”
“If all these funds were coming into the banking system, the banks would have used it in supporting payments of imports and BoG wouldn’t have to come in to sell forex to the Bulk Oil Distributing Companies (BDCs).”
“I worked as a foreign exchange dealer in a bank and we used to go to some of these MTCs and Fintechs for foreign currencies, which is a clear indication that they have been holding on to them,” he disclosed.
In order to find flaws and leaks, he also demanded a forensic audit of all remittances entering the nation.
Furthermore, he suggests that in order to ascertain whether remittances are a constant in Ghana’s balance of payments, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, and the Bank of Ghana should collaborate with development partners such as the World Bank.
After the ceasefire expires, thousands of British citizens face the dreadful possibility of being stranded in Sudan.
A tenuous cease-fire was imposed on Tuesday to permit residents of the war-torn capital of Khartoum to leave, and 536 Britons have been transported to safety on six flights.
The government has cautioned that there is no certainty as to how many more evacuation flights will leave when the deadline passes at midnight local time (10pm GMT) tonight because the ceasefire expires.
More than 2,000 British nationals in Sudan have registered with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under evacuation plans, but thousands more could be in the country.
The military is racing against time to rescue Brits who will be stranded if they can’t make it to the Wadi Saeedna airstrip in time.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly this morning urged UK nationals still in the Northeast African country: ‘If you are planning to move, move now.’
He told Sky News: ‘We cannot predict exactly what will happen when that ceasefire ends, but what we do know is it will be much, much harder, potentially impossible.
‘So what we’re saying to British nationals is if you’re hesitant, if you’re weighing up your options, our strong, strong, strong advice is to go to Wadi Saeedna while the ceasefire is up and running.
‘There are planes, there is capacity, we will lift you out. I’m not able to make those same assurances once the ceasefire has ended.’
The biggest problem facing UK nationals is getting to the airstrip north of the capital safely with fighting still being heard in Khartoum and nearby Omdurman despite the ceasefire.
Armed gangs and criminals are reportedly also in the area meaning any route to safety requires a perilous journey that comes with the very real risk of being shot, injured or robbed.
One British writer managed to get out of Sudan by taking a 600-mile exit route in what she called a ‘miracle escape’.
However, other Brits aren’t so fortunate with a student describing how she’s stuck in Khartoum amid scenes reminiscent of the horror movie The Purge, while another man from the UK is trying to make the dangerous journey on foot.
Further evacuation flights were expected to leave Sudan last night after the first plane carrying British nationals landed safely yesterday afternoon.
Africa minister Andrew Mitchell said the evacuation mission was ‘going very smoothly’ with ‘no great backlog, no great congestion’ at the airstrip.
But he warned ‘we are absolutely in the hands of the ceasefire’ and the government has told Brits that ‘travel within Sudan is conducted at your own risk’.
Mr Mitchell told Sky News: ‘We are doing everything we can to make sure it’s prolonged and on the wider stage, too, trying to negotiate for a longer ceasefire, because if the combatants don’t lay down their arms and return to barracks, there’s going to be a humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan.’
He also said that ‘at the moment those safe and legal routes don’t exist’ for refugees from Sudan to claim asylum in the UK.
Military chiefs have told Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at least 500 people a day can be airlifted and flights can continue ‘for as long as we need to’ even if the 72-hour pause in fighting agreed between rival generals breaks.
It means UK citizens may still have a potential route out of Sudan but will come with the choice of either remaining in the country seeking safety and shelter or risk travelling through a warzone to make it to the airstrip.
Tarig Babikir, a British national who is trying to flee, said: ‘It’s complete anarchy right now, complete chaos.
‘Anyone can rob you, anyone can shoot you.’
One man from Sudan, who did not give his name, described his experience as a ‘nightmare’ when speaking outside Stansted Airport after returning safely.
He said: ‘It’s absolutely fantastic to be back. It’s been a nightmare. We’ve never seen anything like it before.
‘We saw it on the television before but we never thought it was going to happen to a peaceful country like Sudan.
‘Khartoum is like a ghost city, everyone is leaving Khartoum now.
‘We are very grateful to the British servicemen and women who risked their lives to come to Sudan and help us out.’
Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has admitted that Ghana’s foreign exchange systems appear to be loose.
This he believes has contributed to the current economic challenges confronting the country.
He maintains that government and key stakeholders have to look at tightening the foreign exchange regime by reconsidering innovative ways of production.
Speaking at the Standard Chartered digital banking Innovation & Fintech Festival in Accra, the Vice President said government will present details of addressing this shortfall of the exchange rate in the coming days.
“It is very clear that our foreign exchange regime is quite loose, and that is why we are going to see how we can tighten our foreign exchange regime. In broad terms, you cannot address the current economic situation without addressing the fiscal and debt sustainability, production and foreign exchange regime.”
Dr. Bawumia underscored the importance of major policy changes in the wake of a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“Once those [negotiations with the IMF] are concluded, it will be clear that it will not be, and it should not be business as usual because we have to adjust to the new global and domestic realities,” the Vice President said.
For one, he said the nature of production needs to change because Ghana has more trade surpluses and current count deficits, “which means that a lot of the foreign exchange that we are earning from our trade doesn’t stay in Ghana.”
Vice President Bawumia also said Ghana would be working to reduce import dependency to address Ghana’s forex problems.
Ghana’s global-worst depreciating currency has been noted as one of the main causes of inflation amid the current economic crisis.
Vice President Bawumia said the President would address the nation in the near future, where the government’s plan “will be fleshed out in specifics.”
“More importantly, if we are going to address this, this economy must be digitalized,” the Vice President added.
